SLAM DANCE: Alex Rodriguez connects on his game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning last night. (
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ATLANTA — Alex Rodriguez doesn’t do routine.
From an early age, he was the player nobody could take their eyes off. Now, in what has to be described as the back nine of a sensational career, he still commands attention — as he did in the eighth inning last night.
That’s when Rodriguez tied Lou Gehrig for the most grand slams in history. And he did it with the Yankees losing by four runs in a game they were dominated by Braves starter Mike Minor for seven frames.
“It means a lot,’’ Rodriguez said of the slam that set up the Yankees’ 6-4 win in front of 41,452 at Turner Field. “He is one of ours, a Yankee.’’
After Rodriguez crushed a 3-2 pitch from Jonny Venters on a line into the first row of the left-field seats for his 23rd grand slam, Robinson Cano singled and Nick Swisher slugged a two-run homer off right-hander Cory Gearrin for the eventual game-winner.
“Down 4-0, it definitely is one I will never forget,’’ Rodriguez said of his 10th homer this season and 639th of his career. “It’s a huge achievement because of what [Gehrig] stands for. Not only for me, but for the team.’’
The victory extended the 36-25 Yankees winning streak to a season-high five games. Coupled with the Rays’ loss to the Mets, the Yankees are in first place in the AL East, one game ahead of Tampa Bay. It’s the first time since April 21 the Yankees have the penthouse to themselves.
“It’s incredible, absolutely incredible,’’ Joe Girardi gushed about Rodriguez tying Gehrig. “It’s hard to fathom. To be mentioned with Lou Gehrig is incredible.’’
Much has been made of the Yankees’ inability to hit with runners in scoring position (.220 coming into the game) and with the bases loaded (.149). Rodriguez was 1-for-10 with the bags full. Yet with one swipe of the bat on a 93-mph fastball that Rodriguez crushed, nobody was thinking failure.
“A-Rod’s grand slam tells people what we can do with the bases loaded,’’ Swisher said.
Swisher’s 10th homer made a winner out of CC Sabathia (8-3), who gave up three in the first inning on Matt Diaz’ bases-loaded double and a run in the seventh.
Waiting outside the Yankees clubhouse for Rodriguez was Randy Kearns, a 15-year-old from North Carolina who caught the laser in his Yankee hat.
Kearns turned the ball over to Rodriguez, who gave Kearns and his friend, Hunter Whitcher autographed balls, a Yankee jersey and a bat.
“He volunteered the game ball back, that’s pretty generous,’’ Rodriguez said of the Kearns, a Yankees fan who made the five-hour drive to see his first Yankees game.
With all the talk about what the Yankees weren’t doing in the clutch or with the bases juiced, Rodriguez felt a sense of relief.
“It was big, it almost felt like it was a swing for the team. Everybody needed that,’’ said Rodriguez, who was 5-for-29 (.172) with four singles, a double and eight strikeouts since his last homer on June 3 in Detroit. “We were waiting for it.’’
After Sabathia split, lefty Clay Rapada, who pitched for the fourth straight game, worked a scoreless eighth. One night after a blister on the right index finger sidelined him, Rafael Soriano hurled a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.
“We are not playing exciting baseball, but we are playing winning baseball,’’ Rodriguez said of the Yankees, who have won 15 of 19 but not in the fashion that Rodriguez delivered.
Adore him. Abhor him. And both sides of the emotional debate were represented last night. But one thing is always in play: Take your eyes off him and risk missing something like him tying Gehrig.
george.king@nypost.com